Heat can't stop First Day Fund volunteers

Central Illinoisans were trying to stay cool Wednesday as a sweltering heat wave settled in and pushed the heat index, or "feels like" temperature, to more than 105 degrees.

An "excessive heat" warning issued by the National Weather Service for Sangamon and surrounding counties is in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday. During that time, temperatures will climb into the middle to upper 90s, and afternoon heat index readings could be as high as 110 degrees each day.

Here’s how some people were dealing with the heat Wednesday.

Backpack volunteers

Student-athletes from all three of Springfield's high schools didn’t let the heat stop them from helping out the First Day Fund that provides backpacks and school supplies for needy children. The athletes were loading pencils and other school supplies in the backpacks so that when the first day of school rolls around, kids will have everything they need.

The work is being done in a storage area at Michael von Behren Builder, 3537 S. Douglas Ave. To beat the heat, the garage doors were open and there were fans going. The Springfield High School basketball team was working a shift early Wednesday afternoon.

“It feels like its back in the gym. It’s that hot. It’s like we’re running 'suicides,'” said Caleb Small, who will be a junior when school starts.

Zaire Harris, who will also be a junior, agreed.

“It’s like being in the old gym, practicing our freshman year. It’s hot for sure,” he said.

Despite the heat, Small and the other players appeared to be having a good time as they filled the backpacks.

“I always want to give back to the community,” Harris said. “It’s a good time for team-bonding and for our team to get together and do something positive for the community.”

John Charlton, chairman of the First Day Fund, said more than 1,400 backpacks will be handed out this year.

“In general, it takes about 300 people to do this,” Charlton said. “They are all volunteers. The kids are a big part of it.”

Charlton was also grateful to von Behren for giving them the workspace.

The student-athletes will be back Thursday and possibly Friday to finish the job.

“I’m going to be here (Thursday) with the football team. I’m used to the heat,” Small said.

Professional roofers

One business that is especially affected by heat waves is the roofing business.

Dan Schnell, owner of Blackhawk Roofing, 4208 Southwoods Road, said his employees started about 5 a.m. Wednesday and finished up around 10:30 a.m., which is typical for extremely hot days. He noted that the temperature on a roof can be 30 degrees hotter than the air temperature due to the black roofing material.

“Everything you touch is on fire,” Schnell said.

In addition to the early hours, his crew drinks a lot of water. Schnell estimated that each worker went through at least three bottles of water Wednesday.

Public works crews

Springfield public works crews, including the people who fill potholes and pick up branches, also adjust their hours because of the summer heat.

Workdays begin at 6:30 a.m. and last until 2:30 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, public works director Mark Mahoney explained.

Supervisors and crew foremen also advise workers to stay hydrated and take breaks when needed in extreme heat conditions like the city is experiencing now, he said.

Pool partiers

Lynn Saputo, director of recreation for the Springfield Park District, said that many people have been cooling off in the district’s pools.

The average daily attendance at Veterans Memorial Pool, 2700 E. Ely St., is 140 to 150 people, and on Wednesday, 163 people were there.

“They are definitely beating the heat in the public pools,” Saputo said.

Last week, on July 12 when the mercury hit 94 degrees, Veterans Pool had 265 visitors.

“The Nelson Center confirmed the same thing. They had a record day (Tuesday),” Saputo said.

While cooling off in the pool is a good way to beat the heat, the park district’s pools don’t always see a surge in attendance during heat waves. Sometimes, it’s so hot that not even a trip to the pool can lure people out of their air-conditioned homes.

“Sometimes, the heat doesn’t bring people out of the house,” Saputo said.

Information

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